Research Scientist - Polymer Chemistry

You will help shape the chemical development of our nanocarrier platform. You develop and optimize scalable syntheses of polymers and nanoparticles, and translate lab scale protocols into robust production processes. New designs move through your hands into our nanocarriers, where you develop reproducible antibiotic conjugations and make sure these processes can be reliably scaled up.

Working alongside external partners, you support our first GLP suitable production run of our nanocarriers. In this role, you bring both a researcher's mindset and a translational one, where reproducibility, quality, and scalability are central to how you work.

You collaborate daily with our microbiologist. Biological results come back to you, and you translate them into new chemical designs, continuously adjusting the properties of our nanocarriers to improve uptake, activity, and selectivity.

At Gateway Bio, you'd be joining a lean, founder-led team building a novel antibiotic delivery platform to fight antimicrobial resistance.

Mark ter Heide, CEO & Co-founder: a background in venture capital, Mark leads strategy, partnerships, and fundraising, and brings an investor's eye to how the company builds and scales.

Jos Paulusse, CTO & Co-founder: the scientific inventor behind the platform, Jos is a former associate professor and leads the technology and R&D side, bringing deep academic expertise in polymer chemistry into a commercial setting.

• Develop and optimize scalable syntheses of polymers and nanoparticles
• Translate laboratory protocols into robust, reproducible production processes
• Design and execute new nanocarrier chemistries, including antibiotic conjugation strategies
• Support scale up of nanocarrier production, including a first GLP suitable production run with external partners
• Work closely with our microbiologist to translate biological performance data into refined chemical designs
• Continuously improve nanocarrier properties to enhance uptake, activity, and selectivity

• You have a strong background in synthetic, and ideally polymer, chemistry (PhD or 4+ years industry experience)
• You have experience developing or scaling up chemical synthesis processes, ideally from lab scale toward production
• You think both like a scientist and a process developer, with an instinct for reproducibility and quality
• You enjoy working cross functionally, translating biological insight into chemical design
• You are adaptable and hands on, the type of person who sees what needs doing and gets on with it, rather than waiting to be told
• You want to build technology with a real path to the clinic, not just the bench

• A competitive salary, commensurate with your experience and aligned with the stage of a fast-growing biotech
• The opportunity to earn stock options over time, giving you a meaningful stake in the Gateway Bio’s success
• The chance to help build a platform from an early, foundational stage, with real influence over its scientific and technical direction
• Direct collaboration with our founding team, including direct work with our CTO
• A role based in Leiden*, at the heart of the Dutch life sciences ecosystem
• Room to grow scientifically and professionally as the company and team expand
• Ownership over your work, and real responsibility from day one
• The opportunity to see your research translated into technologies with real clinical impact.

*Leiden based, but first months will be Enschede based. Housing will be aligned during discussions.

Gateway Bio is only a few months old, so you'd be joining right at the ground floor. That means real ownership from day one, your work will directly shape the science and the company.

You'll be involved in setting up our new lab from scratch, from equipment and workflows to early experiments, giving you a rare chance to build infrastructure rather than just work within it. As we grow, you'll have the opportunity to grow with us, taking on more responsibility as the team and platform expand, and working closely with both founders across the science and business side.

How to apply:

• Browse to our website and click 'Careers'
• Click on your preferable position
• Click 'Apply for this role' and fill in the form

Website: www.gateway-bio.com